scomodo alla dittatura

[sherin]

How would you translate the expression "suo padre era un militare scomodo alla dittatura"?
This is my try: "his father was an army office who opposed to the dictatorship"...but it sounds strange to me...mmhhh
I am writing a short biography.
Thanks

 

[london calling]

"his father was an army officer who opposed the dictatorship".

It's not quite the same thing, is it?

How about:

He was a thorn in the dictator's side (meglio, però, se scrivi il nome del dittatore!)

Uno scomodo, che dava fastidio, che metteva il bastone fra le ruote (to put a spoke in someone's wheel)....

Any use?

Bye!

 

[Zsanna]

I can't think of the right term but isn't there something with "embarass(ing/ment/etc.)"?

 

[sherin]

Thank you so much!!!!!!!I ignore lots of idiomatic expression in English..sigh....

I can't think of the right term but isn't there something with "embarass(ing/ment/etc.)"?

More or less...but I think that londoncalling gave the expression I meant.
Thanks anyway

 

[Zsanna]

Especially as I couldn't give anything more than a beginning of an idea, unfortunately!
(And hoped that some native speaker will get an idea seeing it, like "he was embarassing for the dictatorship"...)

 

[london calling]

Especially as I couldn't give anything more than a beginning of an idea, unfortunately!
(And hoped that some native speaker will get an idea seeing it, like "he was embarassing for the dictatorship"...)

It does, I think, But I suppose we could always say "he was an embarassing thorn in the dictator's side"!

Però, è un po' forzato.....

He was a source of embarassment to the dictator mi suona bene!

 

[Waterfall123]

It's not quite the same thing, is it?

How about:

He was a thorn in the dictator's side (meglio, però, se scrivi il nome del dittatore!)

Uno scomodo, che dava fastidio, che metteva il bastone fra le ruote (to put a spoke in someone's wheel)....

Any use?

Bye!

Chiedo...Esiste anche un'espressione con "pain" anche? (Che non sia volgare, però!)

 

[london calling]

Chiedo...Esiste anche un'espressione con "pain" anche? (Che non sia volgare, però!)

Yes, in BE for sure, but I wouldn't use it here! (too colloquial...)

to be a pain in the kneck
to be a pain in the backside
to be a pain in the arse

E' un rompiscatole ecc. (Fate voi!)

 

[Murphy]

I can't think of the right term but isn't there something with "embarass(ing/ment/etc.)"?

Especially as I couldn't give anything more than a beginning of an idea, unfortunately!
(And hoped that some native speaker will get an idea seeing it, like "he was embarassing for the dictatorship"...)

We do have an expression "he was an embarrassment to.." although it may not be a strong enough expression in this particular case. I'm guessing that this army officer is "scomodo" because he opposes the dictatorship in some way, in which case londoncalling's suggestion is more appropriate.

Here are some examples using embarrassment:

You are always falling down drunk in public. You are such an embarrassment to our family!

The latest corruption scandal is a real embarrassment to the Prime Minister, who has staked his personal reputation on a campaign for honesty and openessness in government.

Hope it helps

 

[sherin]

Yes Murphy. Our officer opposed the regime so much that the intelligence killed him...!!!!so, the londoncalling option is definitely the good one!
Thanks for the "embarassment" suggestions!

 

[kaiman]

I think that "thorn in somebody side" is too strong of an expression to be used here... It would imply that the guy was actively doing something to oppose the regime (am I right?), while "scomodo" might simply mean that his ideas, attitude or general behaviour were unwelcome (or not in line) in that context.
Again, "scomodo" may mean "not easy to put up with", although this is not the meaning we're looking at here...

 

[kaiman]

Yes Murphy. Our officer opposed the regime so much that the intelligence killed him...!!!!so, the londoncalling option is definitely the good one!
Thanks for the "embarassment" suggestions!

Ops... sorry. If this is the case, then I think londoncalling is definitely right